The family of Tenisha Evans is mourning and demanding answers after the 24-year-old mother died just days after giving birth to twin sons via C-section at St. John’s Hospital in Far Rockaway.
Evans, who was discharged despite experiencing complications, passed away on Feb. 5, 2025. Her newborns survived, but her sudden loss has left her loved ones devastated and searching for accountability.
Her mother, heartbroken and angry, is among those calling attention to what many advocates say is a worsening maternal health crisis disproportionately affecting Black women.
“Y’all know I’m tired of these maternal deaths, right?” Scihonor Devotion, a birth worker and advocate, wrote on Instagram. “The maternal mortality rate for every other race has declined, except for Black women.”
The tragedy has sparked outrage among activists and organizations like Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond and 4Kira4Moms, which have been fighting for improved maternal healthcare and the prevention of avoidable deaths.
4Kira4Moms, named in memory of Kira Johnson, who died after a routine C-section at Cedars-Sinai, posted a call to action urging supporters to rally outside St. John’s Hospital on March 16, 2025, in support of Evans’ family.
Advocates say Black women in the U.S. face significantly higher maternal mortality rates, often due to systemic healthcare disparities, lack of proper postpartum care, and dismissive treatment by medical professionals.
“There is nothing genetically wrong with us,” Devotion continued in her post. “Their system is not designed to keep us healthy or alive. Black midwives, doulas, and others have been screaming from the rooftops. But our cries fall on deaf ears.”
Evans’ passing is yet another tragic reminder of the urgent need for change in maternal healthcare.
As her family grieves, they are also determined to push for justice—not just for Tenisha, but for all Black mothers lost too soon.
